Mahim Bay
Encyclopedia
Mahim Bay is a large bay
, part of the Arabian Sea
in Mumbai
India
. The southern end is Worli
, northern end is Bandra Reclamation and Mahim
is in the centre. The bay was named after the islands of Mahim and Salsette were merged in the early 19th century. The Mithi River
drains into Mahim Creek
which drains into the Bay, and forms the border between the city and its suburbs
.
During the colonial era, the Portuguese
built a watch tower called Castella de Aguada on the northern side. Later, the British
built the Worli Fort
to the south and Mahim Fort
near the creek to defend the seven islands of Bombay
against attacks by the Portuguese and the Marathas.
The bay holds a small indigenous fishing population known as the Koli
s. A large scale infrastructural project, the Bandra-Worli Sea Link
, aims to link the two ends of the bay by a flyover bridge to reduce commuting time between the suburbs and the city. During the monsoon season the sea waves hit against the walls and sometimes also enters the small byelanes. The bay is highly polluted due to the drainage of the polluted Mithi river into it. Mahim bay shifts according to the tide; during high tide, water rushes to the Bandra side and during low tide, the Worli side is full of water. Recently tar deposits have been found in the bay. The bay is highly unsafe for swimming or Ganpathi immersion. The flooding situation is growing worse. Approximately the sea floods the area once a week. It reaches up to the walls of Bombay Scottish School
. The school authorities are advised to shut their sea facing gates to ensure safety of the children.The most frightening situation occurred after the start of the Bandra-Worli Sea Link
project. the waves entered the small byelanes with great velocity . The Cafe Coffee Day
and the Barista
outlets were nearly touched by the rising waves.The citizens living on the sea facing side of the Veer Savarkar Marg have been warned repeatedly of building checkwalls to prevent loss of lives and destruction of any movable or immovable property. The students of Bombay Scottish School
are also repeatedly told not to go on the beach for safety reasons. The environmentalists in that area have said that the bay has come ahead nearly by 100 metres . This bay is a cause of concern for the local bodies. It is predicted that the waves will nearly submerge Shivaji Park
if their arrival to the shore is so fast. The land at the bay has sunk by 2 mm due to the rampant erosion due to the ferocious sea. This will play a deciding role in the safety of the Bandra-Worli Sea Link only time can tell.
Bay
A bay is an area of water mostly surrounded by land. Bays generally have calmer waters than the surrounding sea, due to the surrounding land blocking some waves and often reducing winds. Bays also exist as an inlet in a lake or pond. A large bay may be called a gulf, a sea, a sound, or a bight...
, part of the Arabian Sea
Arabian Sea
The Arabian Sea is a region of the Indian Ocean bounded on the east by India, on the north by Pakistan and Iran, on the west by the Arabian Peninsula, on the south, approximately, by a line between Cape Guardafui in northeastern Somalia and Kanyakumari in India...
in Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. The southern end is Worli
Worli
-History:Worli was one of the original seven islands that constituted the city of Mumbai. Although primarily a fishing village, the Worli Fort, a British fort that is now in ruins, is located there. Its original resident was the legendary Dishankeshwar Kalsi who has also been recognized in several...
, northern end is Bandra Reclamation and Mahim
Mahim
Mahim is a neighbourhood in Mumbai. It is also the name of a railway station in Mahim area, on the Mumbai suburban railway on the Western Railway railway line. In ancient times, the area was known as Maijim, Mejambu, Mahikawati....
is in the centre. The bay was named after the islands of Mahim and Salsette were merged in the early 19th century. The Mithi River
Mithi River
The Mithi River is a river in Salsette Island, the island of the city of Mumbai. It is a confluence of tail water discharges of Powai and Vihar lakes. The river is seasonal and rises during the monsoons. The overflowing lakes also contribute to the river flow which is stopped by a dam in other times...
drains into Mahim Creek
Mahim Creek
Mahim Creek is a creek in Mumbai, India. The Mithi River drains into the creek which drains into the Mahim Bay. The creek forms the boundary between the city and suburbs...
which drains into the Bay, and forms the border between the city and its suburbs
Mumbai Suburban District
The Mumbai Suburban district is a district of the state of Maharashtra in western India. Its headquarters is in Bandra . It consists of three administrative subdivisions or tehsils: Kurla, Andheri, and Borivali. The district along with Mumbai City district make up the metropolis of Mumbai...
.
During the colonial era, the Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
built a watch tower called Castella de Aguada on the northern side. Later, the British
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
built the Worli Fort
Worli Fort
thumb|250px|Old map of the region .The Worli Fort is a fort built by the British in Worli, Mumbai , India. The fort, often mistakenly referred to as being built by the Portuguese, was actually built by the British around 1675. The fort, built on the Worli hill, overlooked the Mahim Bay at a time...
to the south and Mahim Fort
Mahim Fort
The Mahim Fort is a fort in Mahim in Mumbai, Maharashtra state, India. Strategically located in the Mahim Bay, the fort overlooks Worli to the south, Bandra to the north, and Mahim to the east. The origins of the fort are unclear, but it occupies a strategic location that has been frequently...
near the creek to defend the seven islands of Bombay
Seven islands of Bombay
The seven islands of Bombay were an archipelago of islands that were, over a span of five centuries, connected to form the area of the modern city of Mumbai in India. The seven islands were gradually physically united through land reclamation projects...
against attacks by the Portuguese and the Marathas.
The bay holds a small indigenous fishing population known as the Koli
KOLI
KOLI is a radio station serving Wichita Falls, Texas and Vicinity with a country music format. It operates on FM frequency 94.9 MHz and is under ownership of Cumulus Media. It is the radio flagship station for the Wichita Falls Wildcats hockey team....
s. A large scale infrastructural project, the Bandra-Worli Sea Link
Bandra-Worli Sea Link
The Bandra–Worli Sea Link , also known as the Rajiv Gandhi Sea Link , is a cable-stayed bridge with pre-stressed concrete-steel viaducts on either side, that links Bandra and the western suburbs of Mumbai with Worli...
, aims to link the two ends of the bay by a flyover bridge to reduce commuting time between the suburbs and the city. During the monsoon season the sea waves hit against the walls and sometimes also enters the small byelanes. The bay is highly polluted due to the drainage of the polluted Mithi river into it. Mahim bay shifts according to the tide; during high tide, water rushes to the Bandra side and during low tide, the Worli side is full of water. Recently tar deposits have been found in the bay. The bay is highly unsafe for swimming or Ganpathi immersion. The flooding situation is growing worse. Approximately the sea floods the area once a week. It reaches up to the walls of Bombay Scottish School
Bombay Scottish School
Bombay Scottish School popularly known as Scottish is a private, co-educational day school located at Mahim in Mumbai, India. The institution was established in 1847 by Scottish Christian missionaries under the name Scottish Female Orphanage....
. The school authorities are advised to shut their sea facing gates to ensure safety of the children.The most frightening situation occurred after the start of the Bandra-Worli Sea Link
Bandra-Worli Sea Link
The Bandra–Worli Sea Link , also known as the Rajiv Gandhi Sea Link , is a cable-stayed bridge with pre-stressed concrete-steel viaducts on either side, that links Bandra and the western suburbs of Mumbai with Worli...
project. the waves entered the small byelanes with great velocity . The Cafe Coffee Day
Cafe Coffee Day
Café Coffee Day is a division of India's largest coffee conglomerate, Amalgamated Bean Coffee Trading Company Ltd. . ABCTCL grows coffee in its own estates of 10,000 acres . The land value of the plantations is US$250–300 million. It is the largest producer of Arabica beans in Asia...
and the Barista
Barista Coffee (India)
Barista Lavazza is a chain of espresso bars in India. Headquartered in Noida, Barista currently has espresso bars across India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and the Middle East. It was founded in 1997 by Amit Judge and was part of his group of companies. He sold part of the equity to first Tata Coffee....
outlets were nearly touched by the rising waves.The citizens living on the sea facing side of the Veer Savarkar Marg have been warned repeatedly of building checkwalls to prevent loss of lives and destruction of any movable or immovable property. The students of Bombay Scottish School
Bombay Scottish School
Bombay Scottish School popularly known as Scottish is a private, co-educational day school located at Mahim in Mumbai, India. The institution was established in 1847 by Scottish Christian missionaries under the name Scottish Female Orphanage....
are also repeatedly told not to go on the beach for safety reasons. The environmentalists in that area have said that the bay has come ahead nearly by 100 metres . This bay is a cause of concern for the local bodies. It is predicted that the waves will nearly submerge Shivaji Park
Shivaji Park
Shivaji Park is the largest park in Mumbai. It is situated in the Dadar area of Mumbai. Like the Azad Maidan and August Kranti Maidan , it is of historical and cultural value because of the political and social gatherings it has witnessed, both in pre- and post-independence Mumbai.-Geography:The...
if their arrival to the shore is so fast. The land at the bay has sunk by 2 mm due to the rampant erosion due to the ferocious sea. This will play a deciding role in the safety of the Bandra-Worli Sea Link only time can tell.